Shocked Phals

[Anna]

Hi Everyone,

I have 3 plants and I have been having trouble with them for a while now, they just don't want to bloom. Well anyway they needed repotting but now that I did that they got shocked and wont grow roots or anything. I'm planing to just let them be and wait patiently for them to start growing again, but I was wandering if I should do something and how long will they stay like this?

I also have a little epidendrum (it was keiki) I got from my grandma. It's the only orchid I have that's actually happy and I was wondering how long will it take to mature and produce flowers? I attached a

I appreciate all help

[CoolPhrog]

Hi Anna! Sorry to hear about your phals but if they were in my collection, I would probably just leave them be for now and keep a close eye on them. Water them as normal (for winter months) and hold off on any fertilizer. How long ago did you repot them?

I would treat your little epi as though it were a seedling. It looks great but it will probably be a year or two before it will bloom. I say this not knowing what type it is. Does your grandmother's plant have a tag that identifies it?

[Anna]

Thanks for the quick reply!

I repoted 2 maybe 3 weeks ago, I'm not sure, it could be more.

Hers didn't have a tag, but it's a very common kind I saw it everywhere in California. It has little pink flowers.

How do you care for seedlings? I've only been watering it and its already grown 2-3 roots and leaves.

[camille1585]

I would not be worried about the phals just yet, since it has only been a couple weeks since you repotted. Most phals sulk a while after repotting. Sometimes it is just for a few weeks, sometimes for a month or more. However, once they do get over their sulky mood, they start growing like crazy. Just be patient with them!

[CoolPhrog]

Originally Posted by Anna

How do you care for seedlings? I've only been watering it and its already grown 2-3 roots and leaves.

Clearly what you're doing is working just fine.

[jkofferdahl]

Phals can be moody when repotted, and my experience has been that they're more moody when repotted this time of year. Be patient with them. Soon you'll see the emergence of new roots or a new leaf, and once that happens they will begin growing like mad.

[Anna]

thank you for all your help!
I guess I'll just sit and wait patiently.

[Leisurely]

Anna, Your Epidendrum looks like one of the reed stem types. They are very common and are easy to grow and should bloom in a year or so. It will probably not bloom from the current growth that you have. I should put out another growth from the base and if you can boost it along with generous fertilizing you could get flowers quicker. Growing it outside would improve vigor.

[Anna]

well it looks somewhat like the one on the . I heard it's called the "poor mans' orchid" since it's so easy and cheap to grow so I hope I can manage it .

I can't grow it outside at winter it would freeze but it was out while the weather was warm enough. I think I wont do anything to it for now. I've had problems with fertilizers so I think I'll let him grow in his own pace.

Thanks for the advice!